Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES

Administered at 1.25% and 2.5% of the diet of
female rats subjected to carcinogen-induced
mammary carcinogenesis, asafetida increased
activitylevelsofendogenousantioxidants(glu-
tathione-S-transferase, reduced glutathione,
superoxide dismutase, and catalase), inhibited
lipid peroxidation, delayed tumor appearance,
and reduced the size of tumors.^13 The essential
oil showed a relaxant effect on isolated rat
ileum.^14 Asafetida has also shown hypotensive
activities in animals.^15 It has also been demon-
strated to increase blood coagulation time.^16

TOXICOLOGY

Available data indicate asafetida to be rela-
tively nontoxic, and ingestion of 0.5 oz (ca.
15 g) has reportedly produced no untoward
effects (GOSSELIN). Use of the gum was associ-
ated with a case of methemoglobinemia in an
infant treated for colic with glycerated asafet-
ida. Tests showed that only the gum portion of
the formulation had an oxidative effect on
fetal hemoglobinin vitroand that adult he-
moglobin was unaffected.^17

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Now rarely used in pharmaceutical prepara-
tions; mainly use in cosmetics is as a fixative
or fragrance component in perfumes.

Food. Asafetida is regularly consumed in

Nepal and India as part of the daily diet;18,19

it is reported to be an ingredient in Worcester-

shire sauce. Together with the oil and fluid

extract, it is reportedly used in nonalcoholic

beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked

goods, gelatins and puddings, meat and meat

products, and condiments and relishes, among

others. Use levels are usually very low

(<0.004%).

Traditional Medicine. Used in Iranian folk

medicine to treat abdominal cramps and

diarrhea;^14 in Nepalese folk medicine as an

aphrodisiac, diuretic, antispasmodic, emmen-

agogue, expectorant, anthelmintic, and seda-

tive;^18 in India to treat nervous disorders of

children and women, cough, bronchitis, and

pneumonia in children, and asthma, bronchi-

tis, or flatulence in adults;^19 used in Chinese

medicine (since the 7th century) as a nerve

stimulant in treating neurasthenia; in chronic

bronchitis; and as an expectorant, antiflatu-

lent, and laxative.

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Crude, oil, tincture, and extracts. Crude and

tincture were formerly official in N.F. Com-

mercial crude asafetida differs widely in qual-

ity, depending on sources and is not necessar-

ily derived fromFerula assa-foetida.^20

Regulatory Status. Essential oil, extractive,

and solvent-free oleoresin GRAS for use in

foods (§182.20).

REFERENCES

See the General References for ARCTANDER;BAILEY 2; BARNES; CLAUS; DER MARDEROSIAN AND
BEUTLER;FEMA; GRIEVE; GUENTHER; HUANG;JIANGSU; LUST;MCGUFFIN 1&2;MERCK; MORTON1;
NANJING;USD 23 RD.

1. G. H. Mahran et al.,Bull. Fac. Pharm.,
   Cairo Univ., 12 , 119 (1975).


2. L. Caglioti et al.,Helv. Chim. Acta, 41 ,
   2278 (1958).
   3. L. Caglioti et al.,Helv. Chim. Acta, 41 ,
   2557 (1959).
   4. A. Kjaer et al.,Acta Chem. Scand., Ser. B,
   30 , 137 (1976).

Asafetida 49